Warts and all! A review of specialist sexual health services for young people 

L. Mckay, E. Whatling 

Lothian NHS, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK 

A review of specialist sexual health services for young people was carried out in Lothian as part of Healthy Respect, the National Demonstration Project focussing on the sexual health needs of young people. 

Objectives: to find out from service providers more about who uses specialist or targeted young people’s sexual health services in Lothian; to find out from young people aged 13 – 16 what their perceptions of sexual health services are, how they find out about them and what they want in terms of provision; to find out from young people aged 13 – 25 who use specialist sexual health services when, how and why they engage with services, what they think about the services they use and how they would like them to change. 

Methods: A range of approaches were used including on line and self completion questionnaires for young people, group work with young people, one to one interviews with young people and asking for information from service providers regarding their service and service users. 

Results: 378 young people and 11 service providers responded. The review has highlighted some key lessons from both service providers and young people, which will influence future sexual health services planning. 

Conclusion: Healthy Respect embraces the recommendations suggested within the review and is keen to support those working in specialist sexual health services for young people to develop a young person friendly service. This presentation will provide recommendations on how to do this.